Earthquake increases the effect of active pressure and reduces the effect of passive

pressure. The theories used in our programs (Mononobe-Okabe, Arrango, JTJ 004-
89, JTS 146-2012, SL 203-97, NCMA-SRW) are derived assuming cohesionless soils
without influence of water. Therefore, all input soils are assumed cohesionless when
employing these theories to address the earthquake effects. Earthquake effects due to
surcharge are not considered in the program - the user may introduce these effects
(depending on the type of surcharge) as "Applied forces".
The coefficient kh is assumed always positive and such that its effect is always
unfavorable. The coefficient kv may receive both positive and negative value. If the
equivalent acceleration av acts downwards (from the ground surface) the inertia
forces kv Ws will be exerted on the soil wedge in the opposite direction (lifting the wedge
up). The values of equivalent acceleration av (and thus also the coefficient kv) and inertia
forces kv Ws are assumed as positive. It is clearly evident that the inertia forces act in the
direction opposite to acceleration (if the acceleration is assumed upwards - av = -
kv g then the inertia force presses the soil wedge downwards: - kv Ws. The direction with
most unfavorable effects on a structure is assumed when examining the seismic effects.
For sheeting structures it is possible to neglect the effect of vertical equivalent
acceleration kv Ws and input kv = 0.